Feast
Like a
King
Three Kings
Cake
T
he end of the Christmas season was, at one time,
marked by the Feast of the Three Kings. It is this the
day that the parish priest or the head of the house
would bless the home for protection in the New Year. The
initials of the legendary names of the three kings Caspar,
Melchioe and Balthazar were believed to have given gifts to
the newborn baby Jesus. This custom reflects the Passover
practice of the Jews that marked the doorposts of their homes
so that no harm would come to them. It is an interesting
coincidence that the initials also mean Christus Mansionem
Benedicat (God Bless This House). Prayers, incense and
Holy Water complete this ritual blessing. After dinner a special "King Cake" would be baked, containing a foil wrapped
coin or almond. The person that gets a piece of cake with
the lucky coin or almond, is crowned king or queen of the
carnival.
Bake a KING CAKE to serve this evening to celebrate the
end of the Christmas season and the start of the Carnival
season with a very lucky king or queen. If you don't have time
to follow our traditional recipe, use box cake mix instead and
add the coin or almond to the batter. Share and enjoy!
Ingredients:
3/4 cup light raisins
3/4 cup chopped dates
1 1/3 cups chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped candied orange or lemon peel
1/2 pound (2 sticks) softened butter
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
8 large eggs
4 cups + 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup brandy or whiskey or orange juice
foil wrapped coin or almond
Glaze:
3 tablespoons lemon or orange juice
1cup confectioners’ sugar
Preparation:
1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly coat a 10-inch Bundt pan with
cooking spray. Mix fruits and nuts and toss with 3/4 cup flour to keep
ingredients from clumping together in cake batter.
2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar
until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together 4 cups flour and baking
powder and slowly add to the butter-sugar-egg mixture, combining
thoroughly. Add vanilla and liquor or juice, mixing well. Stir in fruit-nut
mixture by hand until thoroughly incorporated.
4. Pour batter into prepared pan and place a foil wrapped coin or
almond somewhere in the cake and bake Bundt pan 45 minutes to 1
hour or more, or until toothpick tests clean.
5. Let cake cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before inverting onto
rack to cool completely. Combine glaze ingredients and pour over
cooled cake, letting it run down the sides.
6. Before cutting the cake a crown can be placed on the top of the
cake.Let guests serve themselves. Whoever gets the coin of almond
is king or queen for the carnival, wears the crown and will have good
luck for the New Year!